Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae belonging to the genus Otus and are restricted to the Old World. Otus is the largest genus of owls with 59 species. Scops owls are colored in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighter underside and/or face, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees.

The Eurasian Scops-owl is a small owl with prominent ear-tufts and large yellow eyes. Its plumage is mottled grey or brown, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. Fine black streaks run vertically down its body. Both sexes look similar, with subtle variations in overall colouration.

The Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops), also known as the European scops owl, common scops owl or just scops owl, is a small owl in the typical owl family Strigidae. Its breeding range extends from southern Europe eastwards to southern Siberia and the western Himalayas.

Scops owls voices sound like whistling or a row of high-pitched hoots, fewer than four hoots per second. The owls call like this for social interaction [15] or to scare away other animals. But different species of scops owls sound different from each other. Human beings usually know scops owls are nearby because they hear them calling.

Smallish scops-owl with bright yellow eyes. Comes in grayish-brown and bright rufous morphs. Generally weakly marked, without any prominent features: note weak black border to the facial disc, thinly streaked underparts, and short ear tufts (often held flat).

Nov 28, 2024 · There are 56 species of Otus Scops Owls, and they are all wonderful – and that is a strictly scientific statement. This post covers twelve of them – though hopefully among us, we can add many more in the future. *** My encounter with the São Tomé Scops Owl was in Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé – and I have written about this particular trip before.

Oct 4, 2020 · The Eurasian Scops Owl is a small scops owl with cryptic plumage, relatively long wings, a short tail, and small erectile ear-tufts. It is also known as the Common Scops Owl. Photo Gallery (7 pictures)

Scops Owls are relatively small and most have prominent ear-tufts and short, rounded wings.

Small brown owl of hilly and montane broadleaf forests, rarely in parks and gardens. Dark brown above, paler on the underparts and face, with bright yellow eyes. Prominent bright white stripe between back and wings is more contrasting than in other owls in its range.

Medium-sized owl with significant variation in plumage and vocalizations across its large range. Either gray or brown in coloration, with prominent pale ear tufts and pale face outlined in black. Fond of open wooded habitats from lowlands to foothills, often found roosting in temples, houses, and gardens, particularly in rural areas.